THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO ÞÀÊ- Ài Advertising & news enquiries: Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 %ARLY Fax 02 6684 1719 [email protected] [email protected] #HILDHOOD http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 20 #04 TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2005 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only WINE-POWERED HYBRID MODEL Anaesthetists’ dispute Seed Savers open garden bears fruit threatens surgery Alex McAuley are fortunate in having an enthusi- The Northern Rivers region will astic and dedicated group of anaes- face a shortage of emergency and thetic specialists. This is being con- elective surgery options next month tinually eroded due to the unless a contract dispute between disadvantages of practising anaes- anaesthetists and the North Coast thesia in rural areas.’ Area Health Service (NCAHS) The disadvantages include unac- can be resolved. ceptably long working hours for Dr Megan Gray, chairperson of limited financial reward, fewer the Department of Anaesthetics at opportunities for career advance- Lismore Base Hospital, has some ment or private practice. The long serious concerns regarding con- working hours are of particular tract issues for local anaesthetists. concern, with 15 hour days being The contracts are issued over fi ve commonplace as well as a far heav- years and expire at the end of this ier on call commitment than in month. At this stage, there have cities. been no new contracts sighted, yet ‘For us to cover our roster at she says NCAHS has been aware Lismore Base Hospital we really of the problems for a considerable need to do a one in fi ve roster [one length of time. day on call out of every fi ve]. In the ‘There has been ongoing discon- city areas most people are doing a tent among the anaesthetists over one in 30,’ said Dr Gray. employment conditions for the ‘General Practitioners receive a past fi ve years resulting in much rural loading to make rural prac- resentment and loss of good will,’ tice more attractive to them. The Gardening enthusiasts flocked to the Seed Savers Garden in Byron Bay over the weekend including Tully Paddon from Cudgen, pictured above right. Seed Savers’ Michel Fanton, above left, explained the finer points of organic woven fencing, said Dr Gray. same should be offered to anaes- providing a little more detail than the 21-month-old had bargained for. Photo Jeff ‘Seedy’ Dawson ‘At Lismore Base Hospital we continued on page 2 Jazz festival swings Bangalow Highway inquiry widens its scope A parliamentary inquiry into the transport route will be considered Costa in Parliament to travel to the impact of the proposed upgrades by the Legislative Council’s Gen- affected areas and hear of the ‘fear, of the Pacifi c Highway has started eral Purpose Standing Committee insecurity and depression’ gener- with a call for public submissions. Number Four. ated by the RTA’s expanded study While the impetus for the inquiry ‘Not only will the inquiry pro- areas of the Tintenbar to Ewings- was to investigate the reasons for vide an opportunity for community dale, Ballina to Woodburn, and expanding the study area between input, its recommendations could Ulmarra to Grafton sections of the Ewingsdale and Tintenbar, the provide valuable feedback to the Pacifi c Highway upgrade. terms of reference identify a much State and Federal Government on ‘There is enormous concern wider subject area including the both specifi c and strategic issues,’ among residents that the RTA has impact of B-doubles and the role of Mr Page said. failed to consult properly but so far the Pacifi c Highway as the inter- Concerns about the upgrade Michael Costa has ignored the sen- state heavy transport route. Greens between Ballina and Woodburn timents being expressed at com- MLC Ian Cohen and Ballina MP will also be covered by the inquiry munity meetings throughout the Don Page jointly drafted the terms which is set to look at issues such as affected areas. of reference for the inquiry, which fl ooding, the effect on prime agri- ‘I will continue to request him will be chaired by Nationals MP cultural land and on the communi- directly to come and meet with Jenny Gardiner. ties of Broadwater and Woodburn. residents. This is not an issue the The impacts of mixing interstate ‘The inquiry will not delay the RTA or the minister can afford to and local heavy transport on the Pacifi c Highway upgrade because simply ignore or pretend to have Pacific Highway; the impacts of there is no construction money on properly consulted on. Local alto saxophonist, Dave Addes, in a soulful moment at the inaugural interstate truck transport on the the table to build these two section ‘The next state election is less Bangalow Jazz Festival on the weekend. Roddi and the Fellas, Paul Williamson’s New England Highway; and the of road anyway,’ Mr Page said. than two years away and north Hammond Combo and Grace Knight were among the highlights of the many top signifi cance of the New England Greens MLC Ian Cohen asked coast seats are among the most line acts entertaining the crowds. Jeff ‘Jazz party discharge hats’ Dawson highway as a designated national NSW Roads Minister Michael continued on page 4 6X]R_N\ OX[ LX_N[^Y [N_NJUNM 5NJMRWP `RWMX` O^[WR\QRWP =QN KURWM\ JWM L^[]JRW\ RW Z^N\]RXW J[N XO \YNLRJUR\]\ QJ_N ^WLX_N[NM J Q^PN L^[[NW] OJ\QRXWJKUN WJ]^[JU `NJ_N\ JWM LJLQN XO K^MPN] [NJMb VJMN KURWM\ LXW]NVYX[J[b LXUX^[ YJUN]]N\ ]X \^R] JWb MNLX[ JWM L^[]JRW\ J] 2W]N[RX[ 6X]R_N\ *UXWP `R]Q J LXW\RMN[JKUN [JWPN XO [NJMb ]X \QX`[XXV RW ]QN *[]\ JWM 2WM^\][b RW\]JUU L^[]JRW [XM\ JWM ][JLTRWP ]X Ä ] `RWMX`\ .\]J]N +b[XW +Jb ^Y ]X V `RMN INTERIOR 2W\RMN \X^[LN\ [N_NJU ]QJ] ]QN\N =QR\ MR\LX_N[b Y[X_N\ ]X KN XWN XO ]QN UJ[PN\] L^[]JRW\ JWM KURWM\ QJ_N ]QN \NUNL]RXW\ XO [NJMb VJMN `RWMX` ][NJ]VNW]\ ]QN[VJU YX`N[ ]X Y[N_NW] UJ[PN RW ]QN +b[XW <QR[N JWM J]]NVY]\ ]X TNNY ]QR\ JVX^W]\ XO QNJ] UX\\ ]Q[X^PQ PUJ\\ RWOX[VJ]RXW O[XV UNJTRWP ]X ]QN PNWN[JU Y^KURL #ENTENNIAL#IRCUIT J[NJ\ \^LQ J\ MXX[\ JWM `RWMX`\ QJ_N Y[X_NW ]X KN O[^R]UN\\ "YRON!RTS)NDUSTRY 8OÄ LRJU JPNW]\ OX[ -N\RPWNM +URWM\ ?N[X\XU <RUNW] 0UR\\ 9N]N[ 6JbN[ /X[ J /;.. 6 : XW L^\]XV Y[XM^L]\ LJUU ! !! 2 June 14, 2005 Byron Shire Echo www.echo.net.au Local News Anaesthetists time to resolve the contract From front page issues. Mr O’Farrell is mak- Treasure hunters strike gold thetists,’ she continued. ing his usual uninformed Barry O’Farrell, Shadow decisions while sitting on Minister for Health, says he the sidelines.’ %ARLY#HILDHOOD is appalled by the lack of Dr Gray is not satisfied action taken by Health Min- with an extension to the ister Morris Iemma to existing contracts as she feels address the situation. this is merely prolonging the ‘It’s extraordinary that the uncertainty. department has stalled on ‘We haven’t been shown the issue of offering anaes- any new contracts yet, and thetists new contracts,’ Mr if we agree to this exten- -iiÊ«>}iÊÓä O’Farrell said. ‘The expiry sion, who’s to say they won’t of the current contracts has continue to extend indefi - not crept up overnight. Area nitely. A comparable issue Health Services have had arose at Albury Hospital plenty of warning about the which operates under simi- looming deadline. Morris lar rural demographics and Iemma must step in to workloads. ed[ZWomehai^ef ensure anaesthetists con- ‘They have achieved a iwzwGN`{GFw¤I tinue to provide a service at contract that would, if j~y {w{zww} |{~w{wz {w|}D_{{ w{ {y~w}{ Lismore, Casino, Ballina, applied to Lismore Base |{ z { |~{~} { D[{y{ Byron, Maclean and Grafton Hospital, ensure the reten- ~{ { { w | |{wz ~{ hospitals. The current tion of most of the new ~}~ww{ w D uncertainty cannot be anaesthetists and enable us X Xwi{y{YxB` iD allowed to continue.’ to offer attractive condi- Y :GFFD Ben Wilson, a spokesper- tions to encourage new X}w|{zwzw{KF;| {{ son for Mr Iemma’s offi ce, anaesthetists to the area,’ Xeeadem~ {cw{{LLNMKHGJDdx{{zD denied that they were said Dr Gray. Sasha Bravery discovered the wonders of the traditional Japanese neglecting to act, stating ‘The sad fact is that several wedding ceremony at Brunswick’s Old and Gold Festival on the that ‘the Area Health Serv- of my colleagues have opted weekend. Sasha is pictured above wearing an ornate crimson ,!2'% ice has advised the depart- to practise on the Gold Coast bridal ball dress, just one of four outfits worn by Japanese brides ment that the contracts have where they are earning more during a traditional wedding service. Mangal (holding the mirror), 0!24)%3 been extended to Septem- money for working shorter joined festival stallholder, Rasa, who brought along her collection #!4%2%$ ber 30 to allow additional hours.’ of oriental goods for the day. Jeff ‘Old and Mould’ Dawson &/2 Brunswick marketing campaign comes under fi re GREATPIZZAPASTA Brunswick residents’ group Regional Development and are seeking to protect the however, the B & T Group $INEIN (OME$ELIVERY4AKE!WAY BRAVO says its members the remaining $9,000 is town from tourists resorts and Chamber of Commerce ,AWSON3T "YRON"AY are almost unanimous in expected to come from the and high rise development.